Departmental Procurement

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 11W, on departmental procurement, what the monetary value of the expenditure undertaken in 2007-08 for goods or supplies was from  (a) Bell Decorating Group,  (b) ASM Locksmiths Ltd,  (c) Celtic Manor Resort Limited,  (d) Dentons Catering Equipment Limited,  (e) John Lewis plc and  (f) the Scottish Storytelling Centre; and what the purpose of the expenditure was in each case.

Ann McKechin: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Supplier  Purpose of expenditure  Expenditure (£) 
			 ASM Locksmiths, London Lock repair 88.12 
			 Bell Decorating, Edinburgh Internal decoration of Melville Crescent premises 6,012.48 
			 Celtic Manor Resort, South Wales Overnight accommodation 435.00 
			 Dentons Catering Equipment, London Purchase of catering trolley 306.68 
			 John Lewis Purchase of kettles and television sets 2,111.90 
			 Scottish Story Telling Centre, Edinburgh Grant towards the production of "Identities: Tales of the United Kingdom". This involved a grant towards a children's competition to celebrate 300 anniversary of the Union 11,900.00

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden, of 7 October 2008,  Official Report, column 547W, on political parties: finance, what the name of the public sector consultant commissioned to provide public sector auditor advice is; and what the cost of this contract is.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has engaged the temporary services of Mr. Peter Norris, a professionally qualified auditor, through a recruitment agency to provide public sector auditor advice two days per week within its party and election finance directorate. This role is paid pro rota at pay level 1 which for London based staff ranges from £59,045-£74,997.
	The Electoral Commission further informs me that it has recently contracted with PricewaterhouseCoopers to provide assistance with developing standard requirements and guidance on the completion of statements of accounts. The value of this contract is approximately £26,000.

Waterloo Station

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2008 to the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton,  Official Report, column 946W, on Waterloo station, whether the train operating company operating longer trains will be required to pay proportionately greater track access charges to Network Rail.

Paul Clark: holding answer 3 November 2008
	Train operating companies operating longer trains will be required to pay proportionately greater track access charges to Network Rail. This is due to the track access agreement variable charges being calculated by vehicle mileage.

Commonwealth: Asylum

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions UK diplomats have had with the governments of Commonwealth countries on claims for asylum on political grounds by people from those countries.

Gillian Merron: We have regular discussions with Commonwealth countries about a range of issues, including human rights, which can have an impact on asylum claims. Individual asylum cases are dealt with on a case by case basis, and in confidence. We do not discuss them with other governments. All asylum seekers are treated the same regardless of which country they come from. The key concern in all cases is the risk to the individual on return to their home country.

Mauritania: Sanctions

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had discussions with the US Administration on the possible imposition of sanctions on Mauritania.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have not had any discussions with the US administration on the possible imposition of sanctions on Mauritania following the 6 August coup. Government officials are in regular contact with the US administration regarding Mauritania.
	On 17 October the US administration announced that they had imposed travel restrictions to the United States on certain members of the Mauritanian military junta and the government.
	The UK condemned the coup on 6 August and called for the release of the President and the restoration of democratic institutions, and we have been working with EU partners to press for the restoration of democracy in Mauritania. On 20 October the EU met with representatives from the Mauritanian regime to discuss procedures under Article 96 of the Cotonou agreement, which provides for appropriate measures when the 'essential and fundamental elements' of the agreement (such as democracy) have been infringed. Mauritanian proposals did not meet EU requirements, and they were given one month to provide the EU with proposals for the restoration of the constitutional order which satisfy EU requirements. If the Mauritanians fail to do this within a month the EU will close consultations and appropriate measures, including possible targeted sanctions, will be considered. These measures may cover any aspect of the EU-African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) relationship, but there will be an analysis of their impact, and humanitarian and emergency assistance should not be affected.
	The UK hopes that the Mauritanians will produce acceptable proposals within the timeframe given in order to move towards the swift restoration of democracy in Mauritania.
	The UK is also working with other international partners to try to secure a return to democracy in Mauritania. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies suspended military activities to be carried out with Mauritania in September, and are reviewing activities on a case by case basis.

Sudan: Detainees

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what reports he has received of the Sudanese government's decision to detain Ali Kushayb; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the decision to have Ali Kushayb tried by the Sudanese courts instead of the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: We are aware of reports that Ali Kushayb has been arrested in Sudan and will be tried by the government of Sudan. We continue to call on the government of Sudan to co-operate fully with the International Criminal Court over the two existing arrest warrants, which includes one for Kushayb. We hope Kushayb's arrest is a step towards this. There can be no impunity for crimes committed in Darfur.

Uganda: Armed Conflict

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Ugandan government on its forcible disarmament programme.

Gillian Merron: The Ugandan government launched a disarmament programme in the Karamoja region of northern Uganda in 2001. This programme has continued as part of the Karamoja Integrated Disarmament and Development Plan, launched in 2008. In co-operation with partners in Uganda we have visited the Karamoja region and raised concerns both on the ground, with the Ugandan military and civil society organisations and with the government in Kampala. With partners we are currently seeking a meeting with the Ugandan government to discuss the security and human rights situation in Karamoja.

Uganda: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Uganda about human rights abuses by the Lord's Resistance Army.

Gillian Merron: We have repeatedly condemned the actions of the Lord's Resistance Army and the heinous crimes they have committed.
	The Government are actively engaged in dialogue with the Government of Uganda on a range of issues relating to northern Uganda, including human rights. We continue to strongly support efforts to restore peace and stability to the region and are working closely with the Government of Uganda and international partners in efforts to implement the Final Peace Agreement and the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan to ensure that the people of northern Uganda benefit from a sustained peace. The British Government have provided £60 million of humanitarian assistance to northern Uganda since 2006.

Uganda: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Uganda.

Gillian Merron: Although some serious problems persist, including extra-judicial detention and limitations on the freedom of the press and assembly in the approach to the 2006 elections, our overall assessment is that there is continuing progress in Uganda's human rights performance. The Uganda Human Rights Commission's 10(th) Annual Report showed a 14 per cent. reduction in registered complaints in 2007 against the previous year. The UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' last report said that there had been a distinct improvement in the human rights and security situation observed in conflict-affected northern and north-eastern Uganda and that they recognised Government efforts towards strengthening the protection and promotion of human rights. The Ibrahim Index of African Governance also records improvement in Uganda's human rights situation. There are active civil society organisations working largely unhindered in the human rights field contributing greatly to investigative and accountability efforts.
	Our high commission in Kampala closely follows the human rights situation and regularly discusses human rights issues with the Ugandan government, the Uganda Human Rights Commission and other interested parties. We continue to push for more action on topics such as politically motivated harassment, illegal detention, torture, media freedom and the rights of people in northern Uganda, including in the Karamoja region.

Departmental Television

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 7 October 2008,  Official Report, column 557W, on departmental television, which channels are subscribed to as part of the Sky Mixes selection.

Tom Watson: The Sky mixes selection to which my Department subscribes provides for the full range of channels available under the Sky World package and covers the following categories which are described in detail on the company's website; News and Events, Sport, Style and Culture, Variety, Kids, Knowledge, Music and Movies.

Emergency Lending

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what conditionality is being applied to emergency UK lending to developing countries in response to the global financial situation.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government are not directly providing emergency lending to developing countries in response to the global financial situation. The Department for International Development (DFID) has already initiated a 'vulnerability study' of our PSA countries to help inform future funding decisions. We continue to support international financial institutions in their efforts to provide emergency financial support.

Horn of Africa

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is providing for famine relief in the horn of Africa.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) has contributed over £120 million in 2008 towards unmet humanitarian needs in the horn of Africa. These funds are in support of short-term food aid and supplementary feeding programmes, emergency water and sanitation, as well as medium-term cash and food-based safety net programmes in the worst affected areas.
	The Secretary of State who visited Ethiopia last month to assess the impact of UK support, has expressed concern about the need to expand access to relief operations both in the Somali region of Ethiopia and in Somalia.

Zimbabwe

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: In a deteriorating humanitarian situation, five million people will rely on food aid by early 2009. Cholera risks are increasing, strained health services are collapsing and recent reports suggest only 40 per cent. of teachers present at school. Aid agencies are working to make the best of the next growing season. Zimbabwe will likely remain dependent on food aid for some time to come. DFID will spend £44 million this year meeting basic needs.

Afghanistan: Roads

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the condition of the main bazaar road in Musa Qala, Helmand province, Afghanistan; what funding the Government has provided for the reconstruction of the road; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government, through the cross-governmental Stabilisation Unit, provided $200,000 to pave the 750 metre road through the bazaar in Musa Qala district centre. This project was identified as a priority by the local community, and its construction provided employment for local workers.
	The new road, with drainage channels, is an improvement on the previous mud track. Alongside other UK-funded road projects in Musa Qala, this project has enhanced the freedom of movement for local inhabitants and provides improved access to market for local traders.

Overseas Aid: Departmental Coordination

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which other Government departments provided funds to the UN Development Programme as stated in Statistics in International Development 2008, page 124; and how much was so provided in each of the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is the only other Government Department that provided funds to the United Nations Development Programme, as stated in Statistics for International Development 2008, page 124. The FCO provided £9,360,000 in 2006-07 and £2,707,000 in 2007-08.

Alcoholic Drinks: Health Education

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts were awarded to carry out his Department's recent consultation on the alcohol strategy; and at what cost.

Dawn Primarolo: Four contracts have been awarded to carry out the Government's recent public consultation on alcohol:
	1. The Central Office of Information (COI) were awarded a £42,071 contract to produce the consultation documents;
	2. COI were awarded a £7,091 contract to produce consultation postcards;
	3. The Royal Mail Freepost service is used for returning the postcards, the cost of this service so far is £214.40; and
	4. COI were awarded a contract to run regional engagement workshops, at a provisional cost of £208,000.

Maternity Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1176W, on maternity services, how many of the midwife-led units were  (a) situated alongside consultant-led units and  (b) stand-alone units.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, information published as part of the Healthcare Commission's review of maternity services in England (January 2008) shows that of the 82 midwife led units, 57 are stand alone units and 25 are situated alongside consultant-led units.

NHS: Drugs

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has received from commercial organisations on the effect of publishing the 50 most frequently notified products in its quarterly summary report for importation of unlicensed medicines; and what the reasons were for the publication of the list.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has received two representations from commercial organisations about the publication of the MHRA quarterly summary reports for importation of unlicensed medicines. One expressed commercial concerns and felt that importers may tend to prefer to import listed products at the expense of other products, and the second company commented that the information was relevant, useful and interesting.
	The MHRA publishes this list in response to requests from health care professionals for information received during the current review of unlicensed medicines and to provide general information on commonly imported unlicensed products. This may encourage companies to apply for marketing authorisations and also provides transparency on the operation of the importation process.

Nurses and Other Professions Review Body

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) areas of responsibility and  (b) Government-funded budget are of the Nurses and Other Professions Review Body.

Ann Keen: The NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB), formerly known as Nurses and Other Health Professions Review Body, is responsible for making recommendations on the remuneration of all NHS staff paid under the Agenda for Change pay system (all directly employed non-medical staff with the exception of Very senior managers).
	The NHSPRB is supported by the Office of Manpower Economics (OME) who provide an independent secretariat to the review body. The Department is expecting to transfer £58,650 to OME for remuneration costs of committee members in 2008-09.

Pregnancy: Young People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, column 665W, on teenage pregnancy, when the memorandum of understanding was put in place; and when the first quarterly report on progress will be made;
	(2)  if he will audit the range of provision of contraception offered within in each primary care trust area.

Dawn Primarolo: The Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and strategic health authorities (SHAs) is currently being agreed and SHAs will be asked to report progress quarterly. The first report will be received in December 2008.
	Primary care trusts undertook a national baseline questionnaire of contraceptive services in 2006. The Department of Health document "Findings of the Baseline Review of Contraceptive Services" (2007) has already been placed in the Library.

Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many upper-gastro-intestinal cancer centres there are; what population is served by each; where they are located; and when each commenced admitting patients.

Ann Keen: There are currently 38 upper gastro-intestinal cancer centres serving patients in England.
	The following table provides a list of the centres, the relevant cancer network and the trusts covering the centres, as at 30 October 2008.
	Information on the population served by each centre and details of when each centre commenced activity is not available centrally.
	
		
			  Cancer network  Centre  Trust 
			 Lancashire and South Cumbria Preston Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Merseyside and Cheshire Royal Liverpool Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  Aintree Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation 
			  North East Wales North East Wales NHS Trust 
			 North of England James Cook South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  Newcastle/Carlisle(1) Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Humber and Yorkshire Coast Leeds Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust 
			 Yorkshire Bradford Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  Leeds Leeds Teaching hospitals NHS Trust 
			 North Trent Sheffield/ Doncaster(2) Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust/Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust 
			 East Midlands Derby Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			  Leicester University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust 
			  Nottingham Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Anglia Norfolk and Norwich Norfolk and Norwich university Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  Addenbrookes Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			 Essex Mid Essex Mid Essex Services NHS Trust 
			 Mount Vernon Watford West Hertfordshire Hospital NHS Trust 
			 Arden Coventry University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 
			 Pan Birmingham University Hospital Birmingham/ Heart of England(3) University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust/Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust 
			 North London University College London Hospital University College London Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 South East London Guy's and St Thomas' Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust 
			 South West London Royal Marsden Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust 
			 West London St Mary's Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 
			 North East London Royal London Barts and the London NHS Trust 
			  Queen's Hospital Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Central South Coast Southampton Southampton university Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  Portsmouth Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Thames Valley Oxford Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  Royal Berkshire Royal Berkshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			 Kent and Medway Maidstone Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 
			 Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire Royal Surrey Royal Surrey County Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Sussex Royal Sussex County Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust 
			 Dorset Bournemouth Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			 Three Counties Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			 (1) There is a single multi-disciplinary team at Newcastle but operating at the Freeman and Carlisle Hospital. (2) There is a single multi-disciplinary team at Sheffield operating in both Sheffield and Doncaster on the basis of even flows to each site. (3) Operating as a joint centre on the basis of a single multi-disciplinary team with even flows to each site.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what IT projects his Department and its agencies have been undertaking have been subject to gateway review in the last 12 months; and what the outcome of each gateway review was.

Angela Eagle: The following IT projects, owned by HMT and its agencies, have been subject to Gateway reviews:
	
		
			  Department  Start Date  Name 
			 HMT 5 November 2007 HMT Group Corporate Services Programme 
			
			 HM Revenue and Customs 19 November 2007 Estates Consolidation Programme 
			  20 November 2007 Processing Pacesetter Programme 
			  3 December 2007 Government Banking Procurement Project 
			  28 January 2008 Government Banking Programme 
			  28 January 2008 New Penalties Project 
			  3 March 2008 Customs Service Transformation Programme (CSTP) 
			  10 March 2008 Enterprise Infrastructure Foundation Programme 
			  29 April 2008 C and E Programme 
			
			 HMT (OGC) 12 May 2008 Consultancy Services Framework. Now known as External Resources Framework 
			  12 May 2008 2011 Census Project 
			
			 HM Revenue and Customs 30 June 2008 Business.gov Programme 
			  15 September 2008 Excise Movement and Control Systems (EMCS) 
			  6 October 2008 Government Banking Procurement Project 
			  13 October 2008 New Penalties Project 
		
	
	An OGC Gateway™ Review is conducted on a confidential basis for the SRO (Senior Responsible Owner) and ownership of the report including its associated outcome rests with the SRO. This approach promotes an open and honest exchange between the programme/project and review teams delivering maximum added value. The OGC receives copies of review reports in order to identify and disseminate generic lessons learned.

National Debt

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what objectives have been set by his Department for the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt.

Ian Pearson: The statutory functions of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt (CRND) have been carried out within the United Kingdom Debt Management Office since July 2002. The CRND's main responsibility is the investment and management of Government funds. The Commissioners' powers and functions are laid down in the various parliamentary Acts relating to each individual fund and/or the publication of accounts.
	In relation to the exercise of its fund management role, the DMO/CRND has a published an objective
	"to develop and deliver its fund management responsibilities and in particular, to provide a cost-effective service for stakeholders".

Off-Shore Banks

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's obligations are in respect of guarantees to depositors in off-shore banks in  (a) UK dependent territories,  (b) UK overseas territories and  (c) Crown dependencies; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 3 November 2008
	The Treasury has no obligations in respect of deposits with banks in UK dependent territories, UK overseas territories or the Crown dependencies.
	The Financial Services Compensation Scheme does not cover deposits with banks in UK dependent territories, UK overseas territories or the Crown dependencies. Deposits in these jurisdictions would be covered by any locally operated schemes.

Personal Savings: Protection

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government plans to guarantee the investments of individual savers in Icelandic banks if they are held in the subsidiary accounts of British banks based in  (a) Guernsey and  (b) the Isle of Man; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 20 October 2008
	 Arrangements for depositors in banks in the Isle of Man and Guernsey are a matter for the Governments of the Isle of Man and Guernsey. Deposits with Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander, Isle of Man, will be subject to the Isle of Man Deposit Compensation Scheme.

Planning: Renewable Energy

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will review planning policy regulations to ensure that they facilitate the Government's objectives relating to small-scale renewable energy schemes and the protection of Green Belt land in a consistent manner.

Margaret Beckett: In our plan-led planning system, planning applications must be determined in accordance with the statutory development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The regional and local plans which form the statutory development plan should be consistent with the Government's objectives relating to small-scale renewable energy schemes and protecting green belts set out in national planning policies. Our Planning Policy Statement 22 on renewable energy makes it clear that the very special circumstances required to justify the grant of planning permission for inappropriate development in a green belt may include the wider environmental benefits associated with increased production of energy from renewable sources. Planning authorities have also been advised not to reject planning applications simply because the level of output is small.
	This summer's consultation on the Government's Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) has underlined the importance of a clear planning framework which provides as much certainty as possible on whether a project for renewable energy is likely to gain consent. The RES has acknowledged that with a rapidly evolving set of national policy and guidance affecting renewable energy projects, including the RES itself, it may not always be clear to local planning authorities, applicants and other users how elements of this framework come together in any given case. We have therefore said we will ensure our planning policies for renewable energy are updated quickly to reflect the new RES when in place next year.

Regional Planning and Development

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her Department's consultation on the review of sub-national economic development and regeneration, what the role of district councils in the regional planning process is; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The consultation on the Review of Sub National Economic Development and Regeneration proposed that local authorities form a Leaders' Forum to work with the Regional Development Agency on regional strategy and that such a body should be representative for all local authorities in the respective region, including district councils. We intend to publish our response to that consultation shortly.

Regional Planning and Development

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's area based initiatives are; and what budget has been established for each.

Sadiq Khan: holding answer 3 November 2008
	The Department's area-based initiative programmes and their current budgets are set out in the following table.
	These figures do not take account of the budgetary changes to be effected at the winter supplementary estimates which are due to be reported to the House and published by mid-November this year.
	
		
			  Programme  Budget at main estimates 2008-09 (£ million) 
			 Area-based Grants 637.5 
			 Market Renewal Pathfinders 381.0 
			 Growth Areas 258.0 
			 New Deal for Communities 245.6 
			 Thames Gateway 177.0 
			 Coalfields Regeneration Trusts 17.7

Regional Planning and Development: Greenbelt

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which regional spatial strategies proposed the weakening of Green Belt protection in specific locations in the most recent drafts submitted to her Department.

Margaret Beckett: Regional spatial strategies (RSS) do not express any planning policies which refer to specific sites, they identify broad locations. Emerging RSSs are recommending green belt reviews as follows:
	 North E ast
	Policy 9.5 ensures that the green belt continues to safeguard the countryside from encroachment and check the unrestricted sprawl of Tyne and Wear. The supporting text notes that the general extent of the region's green belt should be maintained, rather than weakened, with detail boundaries to be defined in local development frameworks.
	 North W est
	Policy RDF4 indicates that there is no need for any exceptional substantial strategic change to the green belt before 2021 in Warrington and 2011 in the rest of the region. After 2011 there will be presumption against such change but strategic studies could indicate the need for change and indicate options for implementation, which would be fed into review of RSS.
	Policy RDF4 does allow for potential changes to the green belt of a more localised and detailed nature to be addressed through LDF process but only with agreement of the regional planning body. The policy confers such agreement on potential green belt changes associated with expansion of Manchester and Liverpool airports and a multi-model freight proposal at Newton le Willows.
	 Yorkshire and Humber
	RSS policy YH9 confirms that the extent of green belt should not change, but that green belt round York needs defining. Specific mention is also made of a potential need for strategic review of the West Yorkshire green belt, which extends into Leeds, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees.
	 West  M idlands
	The west midlands regional spatial strategy Phase 2 revision Preferred Option identifies the need for the release of green belt round Coventry and Redditch which will be considered by an independent panel at the Examination in Public next year.
	 East  M idlands
	In their report on the Draft East Midlands RSS the independent panel recommended that the Nottingham-Derby green belt
	"should be recast so as to provide a separation between Nottingham and Derby without surrounding the city of Nottingham."
	In the Proposed Changes, issued for consultation in July 2008, the Secretary of State disagreed with the panel's recommendation. Instead the principle of Nottingham-Derby green belt was reaffirmed, and it was not accepted that sufficient evidence had been advanced to justify the wholesale deletion of the green belt elsewhere as recommended by the panel.
	 East of England
	The published RSS, issued in may, says there should be a local review of green belt in Broxbourne, and that strategic reviews of green belt boundaries to meet regional development needs are needed in:
	Stevenage, including land in North Hertfordshire;
	Hemel Hempstead, involving land in Dacorum and probably St. Albans District;
	Harlow, including land in East Hertfordshire and Epping Forest;
	Welwyn/Hatfield, potentially including land in St Albans District; and
	Luton/ Dunstable/Houghton Regis and Leighton Linslade.
	 South E ast
	The current regional plan (2001) does not seek to review any green belt. The Government's Proposed Changes to its draft replacement (the South East Plan) include proposals for selective green belt release at Oxford and Guildford, and possibly south of Woking. Where reviews result in the loss of green belt land the draft states that a broader review should be considered to determine whether additional land should be designated. The Secretary of State is working to finalise the plan by early next year.
	 South W est
	Following consideration of the recommendations of the independent panel that considered the draft RSS, the Secretary of State published her proposed changes to the RSS in July 2008. These include proposals to revise the general extent of the Bristol and Bath, Gloucester and Cheltenham and South East Dorset green belts to accommodate urban extensions as part of the most sustainable solution for delivering housing and other development. Changes are also proposed to the general extent of the Bristol and Bath green belt to provide for regionally significant development at Bristol International airport and the Port of Bristol, and to the south-east Dorset green belt to provide for development at Bournemouth airport. The Proposed Changes are currently the subject of public consultation; which ends on 24 October 2008.
	 London
	The published London Plan, February 2008 (consolidated with alterations since 2004), does not propose any changes to the London green belt.

Working Tax Credit

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to increase the uptake of the childcare element of working tax credit.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The application and award process for the child care element is integrated with the rest of the tax credits system. This makes it as simple as possible for families who need help with their child care costs to claim and receive support. The child care element is promoted as part of the tax credits system, which has a higher level of take-up than any previous system of income-related financial support.
	One example of steps to increase take-up of tax credits is the initiative, announced in Budget 2008, to offer tax credits advice to families with young children through Children's Centres.

Females: Crimes of Violence

Roger Williams: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many women were victims of  (a) rape,  (b) domestic violence,  (c) forced marriage,  (d) sexual exploitation and  (e) trafficking in each of the last three years, broken down by (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) police force area.

Maria Eagle: Data on these crimes are collected in a number of ways. Where appropriate the Government do hold data on the number of recorded offences made to the police by women. However, these data are not broken down by parliamentary constituency.
	 Rape:
	The following table provides a breakdown by police force area for recorded offences of rape of a female for the last three years:
	
		
			  Recorded offences of rape of a female by police force area 
			   Number of offences 
			  Police force area  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Avon and Somerset 295 393 352 
			 Bedfordshire 188 141 106 
			 British Transport Police 17 16 14 
			 Cambridgeshire 193 193 198 
			 Cheshire 165 150 140 
			 Cleveland 158 125 130 
			 Cumbria 73 63 78 
			 Derbyshire 253 253 217 
			 Devon and Cornwall 361 355 360 
			 Dorset 166 115 192 
			 Durham 129 76 117 
			 Dyfed-Powys 79 92 66 
			 Essex 352 324 264 
			 Gloucestershire 145 150 130 
			 Greater Manchester 769 767 712 
			 Gwent 112 132 164 
			 Hampshire 618 592 549 
			 Hertfordshire 197 179 163 
			 Humberside 323 264 237 
			 Kent 413 368 379 
			 Lancashire 299 257 232 
			 Leicestershire 287 275 315 
			 Lincolnshire 169 147 154 
			 London, City of 5 8 3 
			 Merseyside 356 274 231 
			 Metropolitan Police 2,249 2,144 1,792 
			 Norfolk 209 147 128 
			 Northamptonshire 152 147 138 
			 Northumbria 325 307 232 
			 North Wales 156 99 142 
			 North Yorkshire 134 128 121 
			 Nottinghamshire 236 223 209 
			 South Wales 193 240 232 
			 South Yorkshire 294 241 219 
			 Staffordshire 267 265 224 
			 Suffolk 192 161 151 
			 Surrey 135 134 144 
			 Sussex 399 413 293 
			 Thames Valley 425 411 356 
			 Warwickshire 75 93 96 
			 West Mercia 212 208 229 
			 West Midlands 856 834 748 
			 West Yorkshire 558 579 563 
			 Wiltshire 138 141 128 
			 England and Wales 13,327 12,624 11,648 
		
	
	 Domestic violence:
	The Government collect domestic violence data purely for police performance measurements purposes. Published domestic violence arrest rates for 2006-07 and 2005-06 by police force area can be found at
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/performance-and-measurement/performance-assessment/.
	The domestic violence figures for 2007-08 by police force area will be published shortly on the Home Office website, as part of the release of information relating to police performance 2007-08.
	 Forced marriage:
	The forced marriage unit have been keeping statistics on reportings of forced marriage since January 2008. It is not possible to provide a breakdown by police force area for this crime. Between January and September 2008 the forced marriage unit has handled 1,180 incidents of forced marriage or potential forced marriage.
	 Sexual exploitation and trafficking:
	The Government do not hold figures on how many women were the victims of sexual exploitation or trafficking. The Government have delivered two national enforcement campaigns against trafficking for sexual exploitation, involving all 55 police forces. During Operation Pentameter 1, 88 victims of trafficking were recovered, and during Operation Pentameter 2, this number was doubted to 167 (13 of whom were children).

Departmental Liability

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies.

Si�n Simon: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created by Machinery of Government Changes at the end of June 2007. Since that date, DIUS has not had any new contingent liabilities. The Department's Resource Accounts were laid before the House on 21 July 2008 disclosing the latest position on contingent liabilities for the DIUS Department. Prior to this date, contingent liabilities were notified to Parliament by returns submitted by our predecessor Departmentsthe Department for Education and Skills (now the Department for Children, Schools and Families) and the Department for Trade and Industry (now the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform), who would hold details of the dates these were laid.
	Details of contingent liabilities relating to the Department's non-departmental public bodies will be similarly published in their annual resource accounts.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of 17 to 20 year olds with  (a) A levels,  (b) ACVEs,  (c) BTEC Level 3,  (d) other vocational Level 3 qualifications and  (e) advanced apprenticeships entered (i) part-time first degrees and (ii) part-time other undergraduate qualifications in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Si�n Simon: The proportion of pupils who gained one or more GCE A-levels in 2003/04, who entered a part-time first degree course at a UK higher education institution aged 18 in 2004/05 or aged 19 in 2005/06, was 0.9 per cent. The proportion who entered a part-time other undergraduate course was 0.6 per cent. In total, 1.5 per cent. entered part-time undergraduate courses.
	The proportion of pupils who gained one or more VCE A-levels in 2003/04, who entered a part-time first degree course at a UK higher education institution aged 18 in 2004/05 or aged 19 in 2005/06, was 1.0 per cent. The proportion who entered a part-time other undergraduate course was 0.8 per cent. In total, 1.9 per cent. entered part time undergraduate courses.
	Information is not held centrally on the proportion of pupils with BTEC Level 3, vocational qualifications other than VCE A-levels, or Advanced Apprenticeships, who have entered higher education. The data required to determine progression rates to higher education by age 20 is not currently held by DIUS.
	 Note
	Due to rounding, components may not sum to totals.
	 Source
	For figures: Linked NPD dataset.

Higher Education: Gifts and Endowments

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information he holds on the  (a) value and  (b) change in value of university endowments in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) donations,  (b) surplus transfers,  (c) match funding,  (d) realised asset sales and  (e) unrealised capital gains.

David Lammy: It is not possible to answer this question precisely from the data which is currently collected centrally. The following table sets out the information we hold on the overall income English higher education institutions have generated in each of the last five years from endowments. In August, we launched a 200 million matched funding scheme over three years to promote more philanthropic donations to higher education.
	We shall be working closely with institutions and discussing what data should be captured in future to enable us to quantify progress being made in diversifying the range of funding streams available to higher education providers.
	
		
			  Total level of income from endowments for English Higher Education Institutions 
			   million 
			 2002-03 192 
			 2003-04 197 
			 2004-05 254 
			 2005-06 289 
			 2007-08 326

UfI: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department has spent on Ufi and learndirect in  (a) the most recent year for which figures are available and  (b) each of the previous five years, broken down by main budget heading.

Si�n Simon: The expenditure of Ufi/Learndirect from the direct grant it receives from the Department through the Learning and Skills Council is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   000 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Ufl / Leardirect Participation189,834 129,232 100,154 
			 Ufl/Leardirect Advice Marketing and Infrastructure19,987 41,444 55,451 
			 Total 113,494 192,090 159,735 209,821 170,676 155,605

Fuel Poverty: Hemel Hempstead

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people were in fuel poverty in Hemel Hempstead constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: The most recent year for which sub-national estimates of fuel poverty are available is 2003. The data for fuel poverty levels for 2003 come from the Fuel Poverty Indicator datasetavailable online at:
	http://www.fuelpovertyindicator.org.uk/.
	In 2003, there were around 2,000 households in the constituency of Hemel Hempstead living in fuel poverty.
	Fuel poverty is not measured at an individual level so this data may not reflect the current situation.

Children: Protection

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children there are on the at risk register in Hampshire, broken down by reason for such registration.

Beverley Hughes: The number of children who were the subject of a child protection plan (on the child protection register) in Hampshire for the latest five years for which data is available is set out in the table. These figures are published on the website:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000811/index.shtml
	
		
			  Children( 1)  who were the subject of a Child Protection Plan: Years ending 31 March 2004 - 08 
			  Hampshire  Number 
			 2004 425 
			 2005 465 
			 2006 460 
			 2007 445 
			 2008 465 
			 (1) Includes unborn children.  Source: CPR3 
		
	
	The data is broken down by age and gender and by category of abuse. For the year ending 31 March 2008 children who were the subject of a Child Protection Plan in Hampshire were broken down by category of abuse as follows:
	
		
			  Hampshire  Number 
			 All children(1) 465 
			 Neglect 275 
			 Physical abuse 75 
			 Sexual abuse 45 
			 Emotional abuse 65 
			 Multiple/Not Recommended(2) 0 
			 (1) Includes unborn children  (2) Multiple refers to instances where there is more than one category of abuse. These children are not counted under the other abuse headings, so a child can appear only once in this table. Not recommended refers to classificatory categories not recommended by 'Working Together'(1999) 
		
	
	For the year ending 31 March 2008 children who were the subject of a Child Protection Plan in Hampshire were broken down by age and gender as follows:
	
		
			  Hampshire  Number 
			 All children(1) 465 
			 Boys 250 
			 Girls 210 
			 Under 1 year 55 
			 1-4 years 135 
			 5-9 years 150 
			 10-15 years 115 
			 16 years and over 10 
			 (1) Includes unborn children

Community Support Officers: Ethnic Groups

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of police community support officers were from an ethnic minority background in each year since their inception, broken down by police force.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 21 October 2008
	The available data is given in the tables placed in the House Library.
	The requested data are also published as part of the annual Police Service Strength England and Wales Statistical Bulletin. The 2008 bulletin can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
	and previous years' bulletins are available in the House of Commons Library. The annual Home Secretary's Race Employment Targets report may also be of interest in relation to the question asked:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/race-equality-targets-2006-07

Crimes of Violence

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of serious violent crime were reported in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: A number of changes have been made to recorded crime in response to the two reviews of crime statistics. One such change is that the term 'violent crime' is no longer used in connection with the recorded crime statistics. Figures for 'most serious violence against the person' are therefore provided in the following tables.
	Recorded crime statistics are not recorded at constituency level. The area of Jarrow comes within the South Tyneside crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP) and figures at CDRP level for most serious violence offences are only available from 2000-01.
	
		
			  Table 1. Offences of most serious violence against the person recorded by the police1997 
			  Number of offences 
			  Offence  1997 
			 Jarrow n/a 
			 South Tyneside CDRP n/a 
			 North East Region 869 
			 England and Wales 14,230 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. Offences of most serious violence against the person recorded by the police1998-99 to 2001-02 
			  Number of offences 
			  Offence  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			 Jarrow n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 South Tyneside CDRP n/a n/a 63 62 
			 North East Region 748 819 803 889 
			 England and Wales 15,820 17,006 17,592 18,699 
			  Notes: 1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997.  2. The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the national crime recording standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3. Offences of most serious violence against the person recorded by the police2002-03 to 2007-08 
			  Number of offences 
			  Offence  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Jarrow n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 South Tyneside CDRP 57 46 55 43 48 42 
			 North East Region 1,003 1,053 992 997 957 828 
			 England and Wales(1) 20,356 21,836 21,705 20,972 19,150 16,939 
			 (1 )Includes British Transport police from 2002-03.  Note:  The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the national crime recording standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Crimes of Violence

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of violent crime have been reported in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: A number of changes have been made to recorded crime in response to the two reviews of crime statistics. One such change is that the term 'violent crime' is no longer used in connection with the recorded crime statistics. We now provide figures for violence against the person and these are given in the following tables.
	Recorded crime statistics are not recorded at constituency level. The area of Jarrow comes within the South Tyneside crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP) and figures at CDRP level are only available from 1999-2000.
	
		
			  Table 1. Offences of violence against the person recorded by the police1997 
			  Number of offences 
			  Offence  1997 
			 Jarrow n/a 
			 South Tyneside CDRP n/a 
			 North East Region 9,242 
			 England and Wales 250,827 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. offences of violence against the person recorded by the police1998-99 to 2001-02 
			  Number of offences 
			  Offence  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			 Jarrow n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 South Tyneside CDRP n/a 1,280 1,483 1,686 
			 North East Region 20,392 21,985 21,086 25,579 
			 England and Wales 502,778 581,034 600,913 650,326 
			  Notes: 1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997. 2. The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the national crime recording standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3. Offences of violence against the person recorded by the police2002-03 to 2007-08 
			  Number of offences 
			  Offence  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Jarrow n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 South Tyneside CDRP 2,568 2,500 2,252 2,637 2,711 2,289 
			 North East Region 39,164 40,561 41,537 46,206 48,194 41,085 
			 England and Wales(1) 845,078 967,228 1,048,095 1,059,585 1,046,168 961,188 
			 (1 )Includes British Transport Police from 2002-03.  Note: The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Drugs: Seizures

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the monetary value was of illegal drugs seized by the UK Border Agency in 2007-08.

Jacqui Smith: The UK Border Agency was not formed in the financial year to which the question relates, therefore cannot provide the required information. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Timms) on 15 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1311W.

Genetics: Databases

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of people with criminal records who do not have records on the national DNA database.

Jacqui Smith: The National DNA Database (NDNAD) does not contain any information about criminal records, as this is not necessary for its function of matching DNA from crime scenes with DNA from individuals. Criminal record information is held on the Police National Computer (PNC). Data obtained from the PNC on 31 March 2008 indicates that there were 2,324,879 persons with a record on the PNC added by an English or Welsh force who had a conviction, caution, reprimand or final warning, but no record on NDNAD.

Mujahedin-e Khalq

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent meetings she has had with her European counterparts on the subject of the People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran in light of the ruling of the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg in Case T-256/07 on 23 October 2008.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 3 November 2008
	The Home Secretary has had no meetings with her European counterparts on the People's Mojahedeen Organisation of Iran since the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg handed down its ruling in Case T-256/07 on 23 October 2008.

Offensive Weapons

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the detection rate for offences involving knives was in each of the last 10 years, broken down by  (a) offence and  (b) police force area.

Jacqui Smith: The requested data is not collected centrally on the dataset for serious offences involving sharp instruments.
	Information available from the Homicide Index relates to offences currently recorded as homicide where a sharp instrument was used and there is a current suspect. Data from 1997-98 up to and including 2006-07 are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Offences currently recorded as homicides( 1)  where a sharp instrument( 2)  was used and there is a current suspect, 1997-98 to 2006-07( 3,4) 
			  Year offence initially recorded as homicide 
			  Police force area  Police force name  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 North East Region Cleveland 1 1 3 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 
			  Durham 3 2  1 2 3  2 3 5 
			  Northumbria 11 5 9 5 4 8 8 6 7 10 
			 
			 North West Region Cheshire 3 3   3 2 5 3 7 3 
			  Cumbria 2 1 5 3 1 2 1 1   
			  Greater Manchester 15 14 10 13 23 18 16 15 11 10 
			  Lancashire 6 2 1 15 4 10 12 11 1 4 
			  Merseyside 7 11 6 13 3 10 10 13 10 10 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Region Humberside 2 2 2 2 3 5 8 3 1 7 
			  North Yorkshire 1  11 3 2  
			  South Yorkshire 2 2 4 4 5 7 2 7 6 3 
			  West Yorkshire 12 12 7 8 11 12 6 13 11 10 
			 
			 East Midlands Region Derbyshire 2 1 2 1 4 2 3 2 2 3 
			  Leicestershire 1 1  3 2 4 9 3 3 5 
			  Lincolnshire  1 2  1 2 2   3 
			  Northamptonshire 2 2 1 3 2 5 1  6 6 
			  Nottinghamshire 3 6 5 4 6 3 6 6 7 7 
			 
			 West Midlands Region Staffordshire 4 4 2  1  3 3 2 4 
			  Warwickshire  2 1  1 2 2 3 1 5 
			  West Mercia 3 3 1 3 5 2 5 3  3 
			  West Midlands 3 16 14 7 19 15 22 20 21 14 
			 
			 East of England Region Bedfordshire 3 2 1 2 7 1 1 4 3 3 
			  Cambridgeshire 1 1 4  1 2 5 1 2 2 
			  Essex 1 4 9 2 10 7 5  4 8 
			  Hertfordshire 2 1 5 4 3 4 3 4 3 6 
			  Norfolk  5 2 4 1  3 1 1 3 
			  Suffolk3 2  2 2 3 2 
			 
			 London Region City of London   
			  Metropolitan Police 57 47 63 63 58 56 56 58 54 56 
			 
			 South East Region Hampshire 1 3 5 3 7 8 3 7 4 6 
			  Kent 7 3 7 4 10 6 4 4 7 4 
			  Surrey 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 4 3  
			  Sussex 4 4 5 5 6 8 2 8 4 2 
			  Thames Valley 7 7 8 3 9 12 3 6 7 5 
			 
			 South West Region Avon and Somerset 3 4 5 3 3 4 4 3 2 3 
			  Devon and Cornwall 7 5 1 5 6 2 3 10 5 5 
			  Dorset 1 1 1 3  3 6
			  Gloucestershire 1 1 3  3 3 2 2  2 
			  Wiltshire 2  1  3 2 2 3 1 1 
			 
			 Wales Dyfed Powys  2  1  3   2 1 
			  Gwent  1 1 2 2 2  4 1 2 
			  North Wales 2  2 1 2 3  5 2 1 
			  South Wales 9 9 6 3 10 1 3 4 2 7 
			 
			 British Transport Police
			 England and Wales  192 192 206 202 248 243 233 250 214 234 
			 (1) As at 12 November 2007 figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Homicides involving any sharp instrument, including knives. (3) Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made. (4) Data for 2007-08 are scheduled to be published in January 2009.

Offensive Weapons

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many incidents of violence against the person involving a knife were recorded  (a) in total and  (b) per 1,000 of the population for (i) England, (ii) the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area and (iii) Bath and North East Somerset in each year from 1997 to 2008;
	(2)  how many incidents of violence against the person where a fatality has occurred as a result of a knife wound were recorded  (a) in total and  (b) per 1,000 of the population for (i) England, (ii) the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area and (iii) Bath and North East Somerset in each year from 1997 to 2008.

Alan Campbell: Available data on serious offences involving knives and sharp instruments are available only for England and Avon and Somerset relating to 2007-08, and are given in table A.
	The number of homicides involving sharp instruments recorded from 1997-98 up to and including 2006-07 is shown in table B.
	Data collected centrally for both of these data series cannot be broken down lower than police force area level.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of serious( 1)  offences involving a knife or sharp instrument, recorded by the police, and offences per 100,000 population-.England and Avon and Somerset, 2007-08 
			   Total of selected serious offences( 2)  Offences per 100,000 population 
			 England 20,985 41 
			 Avon and Somerset 360 23 
			 (1) Other offences exist that are not included in this table that may include the use of knife or sharp instrument. 'Offences involving a knife' refers to the use of a knife or sharp instrument. (2)( )Total selected serious offences only included in the: attempted murder, wounding with intent to do GBH, wounding or inflicting GBH i.e. without intent, robbery of business property and robbery of personal property. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Offences currently recorded as homicides( 1)  where a sharp instrument( 2)  was used and there is a current suspect, 1997-98  to 2006-07( 3, 4) 
			   England  Avon and Somerset 
			   Number of offences  Offences per 100,000 population  Number of offences  Offences per 100,000 population 
			 1997-98 191 0.39 3 0.20 
			 1998-99(2) 189 0.38 5 0.34 
			 1999-00 204 0.41 5 0.34 
			 2000-01 206 0.41 3 0.20 
			 2001-02(3) 247 0.49 4 0.26 
			 2002-03 255 0.52 4 0.27 
			 2003-04 239 0.48 4 0.27 
			 2004-05 246 0.49 4 0.27 
			 2005-06 212 0.42 2 0.13 
			 2006-07 237 0.47 3 0.20 
			 (1)( )As at 12 November 2007;figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts or as further information becomes available. (2) Homicides involving any sharp instrument, including knives. (3) Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made. (4) Date for 2007-08 are scheduled to be published in January 2009.

Police: Ethnic Groups

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of police officers at the rank of  (a) constable,  (b) sergeant,  (c) inspector,  (d) chief inspector,  (e) superintendent,  (f) chief superintendent and  (g) Association of Chief Police Officer ranks were from an ethnic minority background in each year since 1997, broken down by police force.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 21 October 2008
	The available data is given in the tables placed in the House Library.
	The requested data are also published as part of the annual Police Service Strength England and Wales Statistical Bulletin. The 2008 bulletin can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
	and previous years' bulletins are available in the House of Commons Library. The annual Home Secretary's Race Employment Targets report may also be of interest in relation to the question asked:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/race-equality-targets-2006-07

Young Offender Institutions: Education

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week were spent on education or training schemes in each young offender institution in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The average number of hours spent on education or teaming activities per prisoner per week for each young offender institution (YOI) during the period April to September 2008 (latest figures available(1)) is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Prison  Average number of hours spent on education or training activities per prisoner per week 
			 Ashfield 15.4 
			 Aylesbury 6.1 
			 Brinsford 9.6 
			 Castington 10 
			 Cookham Wood 14.1 
			 Deerbolt 7.9 
			 Feltham 7.5 
			 Glen Parva 5.3 
			 Hindley 12.2 
			 Huntercombe 12.2 
			 Lancaster Farms 9.7 
			 Northallerton 9.8 
			 Portland 5.9 
			 Reading 4.9 
			 Rochester 3.6 
			 Stoke Heath 6.8 
			 Swinfen Hall 8.2 
			 Thorn Cross 11.5 
			 Warren Hill 17 
			 Werrington 19.8 
			 Wetherby 12.2 
			 (1) Data are provisional and subject to ongoing validation.